Rumor: Aaron Paul attached to Han Solo 'Star Wars' Spinoff

Next to all of the rumors surrounding Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the next closest cause for wild speculation has been the Star Wars spinoff movies. We still know precious little about any of them despite a number of theories that have been thrown around. Will they be about Yoda? Boba Fett? Some new characters from the Star Wars universe? Or perhaps even a young Han Solo?

The latest rumor to emerge from a source at Making Star Wars suggests it will be Han Solo at the center of Gareth Edwards' spinoff movie  arriving in 2016, rather than a film on Boba Fett and other bounty hunters which has also been mentioned. The production on the Solo film would "overlap" with Star Wars: Episode VIII somehow, and apparently Aaron Paul is in the mix for a role. He wouldn't necessarily be playing a young version of Solo, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. Maybe they could get Ellen Page? After all she read Solo's lines in Jason Reitman's live table read of  of The Empire Strikes Back, which Paul was also a part of as Luke Skywalker. Okay, that may be too much of a stretch even for Star Wars fans.

Keep in mind these are all just rumors for now, but if the film is really to arrive in 2016 we should be learning more soon.

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'Star Wars: Episode VII' Villains, Plot Details, and Han Solo's New Look Revealed?

All of the sudden there is a new Star Wars: Episode VII rumor every day, but what's fascinating about the latest spurt is that we're getting images to go along with them. Last night we saw some art that may have been the new look Stormtroopers, and today brings rumors on the villains and maybe a glimpse at Han Solo. So by now you should know the drill but potentially huge spoilers are beyond this point!

If you've been paying attention to the upcoming animated series Star Wars Rebels, then you probably know it takes place prior to 'A New Hope' and chronicles the start of the Rebel Alliance. The villain of the series is the Inquisitor, and according to Latino Review it will be the Inquisitors as the baddies in Star Wars: Episode VII. The Inquisitors are defenders of the Sith Order who have apparently been around for a very long time, but just how long is where this story gets super spoilery.

So we've heard that the plot is driven by the discovery of a severed hand and lightsaber on a desert planet. Found by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega's characters, they set out to find the weapon's owner and meet up with Han Solo and Chewbacca (more on the Millennium Falcon's whereabouts in a sec) to find Luke Skywalker. Luke hasn't been seen in years, and it turns out he's been a captive of the Inquisitors. When Luke is found and discovered, he recounts the history of the Inquisitors, triggering a flashback that reveals their ties to the Sith. The scene also features an appearance by a young Princess Leia and Darth Vader. Yep, Vader will be showing up, too. As for Leia, you'll recall that Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd was said to be hanging around on set and it's to play a younger version of her mother's most memorable character.

That's a lot to digest and yet it's just the beginning.  Harrison Ford is currently laid up with an injury but he'll be back as Han Solo soon enough. And when he does return, Solo will be sporting some new threads and piloting a totally different ship. IndieRevolver, who showed us the Stormtrooper art from before, have now released concept images of Solo's new threads. One is definitely a rogueish variety but the other is clearly designed for cold weather. Perhaps a return trip to Hoth? He's also got two blaster holsters if you can see through the irritating watermarks.

So where is Solo's ride? Y'know, the fastest one in the known galaxy? Well, according to Badass Digest the Millennium Falcon is in the possession of Oscar Isaac's character, who they describe as the trilogy's Lando Calrissian-type. Solo and Chewie are now piloting a Super Star Destroyer, indicating they've either stolen it or have acquired Imperial rank since we saw them last. We'll also have a chance to see him wield a lightsaber again, hopefully for more than slicing open Tauntauns.

There ya go. Deep breath. So to recap, the new trilogy will lean very heavily on the prior ones, and Star Wars Rebels is now looking like a must-watch series. Phew.  Star Wars: Episode VII opens December 18th 2015, which doesn't seem so far away.

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Robert Pattinson Denies He's Replacing Harrison Ford in Everything

Save the "frail old man" jokes in regards to Harrison Ford's injury on the Star Wars: Episode VII set, he'll recover in time to finish up playing Han Solo, possibly for the last time. Although there's probably a good joke in there somewhere about him getting injured now when he skated through The Expendables 3 with no problem. Anyway, an unintended consequence of the injury is stirring up recent rumors Ford, who is now 71 years old, could be replaced by Robert Pattinson as Indiana Jones or Han Solo in a Star Wars spinoff.

Just how credible those rumors ever were is up for debate but that didn't stop Pattinson from getting asked about them by People while discussing his new film, The Rover. And as expected Pattinson not only denied the rumors, he sounds as if he's never heard of them. When asked about Indy, he said...

Pattinson: "I don't know why. Why is that coming out? I honestly don't understand what it's all about. Man, i wish." 

And it was much the same when questioned about Star Wars...

Pattinson: "I didn't even know there was a Han Solo spinoff coming out. Sounds like a cool spinoff. I'll watch it." 

What? You mean R-Patz isn't obsessed with every bit of Star Wars news like the rest of us? Now that I truly find hard to believe.  Pattinson has been steering clear of franchises ever since the Twilight nightmare ended, so it never really seemed likely he'd want to be part of the Disney machine. After press on The Rover is done he'll jump into Olivier Assayas' gangster film, Idol's Eye, which shoots this November.

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'Fish Tank' Breakout Katie Jarvis Rumored for 'Star Wars' Role; Plus A Major Han Solo Rumor

Even though Disney and J.J. Abrams released that cast image a couple of weeks ago, that didn't stop the rumors surrounding Star Wars: Episode VII. More casting announcements are on the way, possibly around the time of Comic-Con, but speculation continues now on the day that production has officially begun. Don't believe me? Then check this out....

#dayone pic.twitter.com/18jtSH7xYM
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) May 16, 2014

Yep, it's happening. But back to the rumors, including one that's a super duper whopper if true. All of these come from Latino Review, who say that Katie Jarvis, the breakout star of Andrea Arnold's 2009 film, Fish Tank, is up for a role. Jarvis, who had never acted before and was discovered quite by accident, gave a fiery and raw performance that seemingly set her up for stardom. But she drifted away from acting and hasn't been a movie since, so this would be a huge surprise. However, it wouldn't be a total surprise because we also know that newcomer Maisie Richardson-Sellers is being courted for a part, and the site says she's been spotted around the production. Richardson-Sellers and Jarvis would be a solid injection of new blood that could take the franchise far into the future.

What about the old guard? A few different theories have gone around about the plot, however they all mention that it will focus on the young children of the Solos and possibly the child of Luke Skywalker. What is it that ultimately thrusts them into battle against the Empire, though? Could it be Han Solo's death? That's the rumor going around right now and it makes some degree of sense. Harrison Ford has wanted Solo to die for some time and hasn't been so enthusiastic about returning to the role (especially in contrast to his Blade Runner and Indiana Jones enthusiasm), and now maybe he's about to get his wish. It's not as if Disney needs Solo around to sell more action figures. They'll probably sell more with him dead, to be perfectly honest. The only question I have is if they would kill off Chewbacca, too.

As always, keep this under your hat until something firm comes down.

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First 'Star Wars' Spinoffs Will Follow Young Han Solo and Boba Fett

Casting for Star Wars: Episode VII got underway today, and finally we're getting a clearer picture of the characters we can expect to see, assuming the film hits its target date of summer 2015. Disney has been forthcoming on their rollout plan for the franchise, aiming to release a new film every summer, alternating between "Episodes" and a series of spinoffs. But now a "trusted and reliable" source has given Joblo a more detailed breakdown that presumably takes us through the entire first wave of movies.

The plan is pretty much what we learned before, alternating between new Episodes and stand-alone character spinoffs going all the way through Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019. The story "confirms" that the first spinoff will follow a young Han Solo and how he became buddies with Chewbacca on the Millennium Falcon. The second spinoff would center on Boba Fett, although no information on his story has been revealed. This would support prior rumors that had Han Solo and Boba Fett were receiving their own films, along with one that would center on Yoda. A planned animated Lego show with Yoda as the focus has shut down any plans for his film.

Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are set to pen the spinoffs, whatever form they ultimately take. We'll see if if this turns out to be true, or if it's just another Star Wars rumor to throw on the pile.

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Harrison Ford reportedly confirmed for 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

J. J. Abrams is normally pretty good at keeping secrets, not that it stops the rumor mill from grinding. When it comes to Star Wars: Episode VII, that's especially true, and it seems like there's a new story every other day. The difference is that many of these rumors all appear to have some kernel of truth to them, enough that we may be seeing his plans round into shape. Or we're all just being duped.

The latest rumor comes from Latino Review, who report that Harrison Ford is all locked up to bring Han Solo back for Star Wars: Episode VII. Ford has been open to the idea since the beginning, although it was so the famous smuggler could finally be killed off. When news of a young Han Solo spinoff cropped up last week, Ford was said to be involved in that to set the whole thing up. Perhaps Ford just wants a chance to work with Abrams again. The two collaborated on Regarding Henry, which was one of Abrams' first feature writing gigs. He wasn't cool enough to be 'J.J. Abrams' back then, so he went by 'Jeffrey'.

Assuming all of this is true, and let's be clear that none of it is confirmed, then it sounds like the plan to bring back Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill is in full effect, with the plan to follow older versions of their characters. It would also mean that all of the trilogies would be connected in as direct a manner as possible. Regardless of what Michael Arndt's script actually calls for, any chance to see Han Solo back on the big screen is a welcome one.

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'Star Wars' spinoff movies to follow young Han Solo and Boba Fett

And just like that, Disney's plan for the Star Wars universe is coming into focus. The last two days have seen a flurry of information, not necessarily about Episode VII, but on the franchise as a whole. Just a couple of days after a Yoda spinoff film was rumored, which was basically confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger who said that multiple stand-alone films were in the works, now comes word of exactly what those projects will entail.

EW reports that two of these projects will center on Boba Fett and a young Han Solo. Presumably this would be along with the Yoda project, so that's three we can bank on right now. The Han Solo film will take place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and will feature the return of Harrison Ford to set it up the story as a framing device. Ford had been rumored to come back months ago, along with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.

The Boba Fett project is a bit sketchier. It could take place on either side of The Empire Strikes Back, and personally I'd prefer to see him after, lugging around Han Solo in carbonite. Actually, I'd like to see him immediately following the whole Sarlaac pit incident in Return of the Jedi. 

I have my doubts if these solo films are a good idea or not. Boba Fett is already over-exposed as a character. He's sort of like the Wolverine of the Star Wars universe. All of the mystery that made him cool is long gone. Disney may be better served creating whole new characters who can be built into the larger framework for future movies, but those obviously aren't as immediately marketable.It remains to be seen what Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg have in store, but the chronology allows them to bring back anyone they want. Maybe even Darth Vader, like some are already speculating? And what about that samurai-influenced film Zack Snyder recently denied being involved with? That rumor didn't just come out of nowhere.

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